Neck Pain and Whiplash

Other than lower back pain, neck pain is probably the next most common condition encountered at Downs Chiropractic. Some neck problems are attributable to whiplash injury, but most of the time neck conditions are related to posture, occupation, and accumulated stress/tension. In diagnosing the source of neck pain, it is very important to determine the significance of arthritic involvement, disc abnormality, mechanical function of the cervical segments, and/or muscular aspects of the condition. A proper examination to include neurologic, orthopedic, and chiropractic assessment will usually reveal a diagnosis quite clearly, and treatment can then be properly targeted. A variety of treatment options are available for addressing neck problems to include stretching and exercise, massage, dry needling, manipulation and/or mobilization, and a variety of physiotherapy modalities which all have the effect of improving neck function and reducing active symptoms. Quite often, one to six treatments is often enough to make a significant improvement regarding the status and behavior of an established neck problem.

WhiplashWhiplash is the colloquial term for a cervical sprain/strain involved with front end or rear end collisions. This is also known as a hyperflexion/hyperextension injury and commonly involves the joints and muscles of the cervical spine primarily, but may include deeper structures such as ligaments, tendons, discs, and nerves. Whiplash can be very disabling and intervention with chiropractic can be very helpful in a successful recovery from a whiplash injury.There is also a “lumbar whiplash” which is related to seatbelt injuries involving the lower back. Again, this is a sprain/strain type mechanism whereby the soft supportive tissues of the lumbar spine and some of the interconnecting ligaments are typically involved with injury, causing pain and spasm of the lumbar spine. Chiropractic treatment including a variety of pain oriented modalities can be useful in alleviating the manifestation of this condition.

Auto-related Injuries
Auto related injuries are commonly treated at our office. Many auto policies include a “medpay” portion which fully pays your healthcare expenses as they relate to the accident. If you do not have medpay in your auto policy, coverage then defaults to your private carrier. In some cases, especially when someone else is at fault in the accident and there is no available healthcare coverage, an attorney is commonly retained by the patient. Our office has experience in working with attorneys to provide them with the necessary documentation to administer your case. Dr. Downs has testified in formal depositions, video testimony, as well as in courtroom testimony as an expert witness on behalf of the patient as their treating physician. He has also been hired as an independent consultant to insurance carriers and attorneys to review records and rendered reports regarding patient care rendered by other providers.

Mid Back PainMid back pain is not nearly as common as neck or lower back pain, but can nonetheless be very problematic for patients when it is actively symptomatic. Because of the attachments of the ribs to the thoracic spinal vertebrae, the mid back by its nature tends to be stiffer, but also less vulnerable to disc and nerve pain syndromes. Very often, pain from the mid back can be related to where the ribs attach to the spinal column, and muscular conditions can also be prevalent in the middle back region. It is further notable that a variety of referred pain syndromes such as ulcers, gallstones, or cardiac conditions can refer to the mid back, so experience is very helpful in determining when mid back pain is indeed musculoskeletal versus referred from some other source or location. Mid back pain near the shoulder blade, which keeps a patient awake at night, is sometimes related to a nerve entrapment syndrome in the cervical spine and is often mistaken as a mid back problem, but a proper evaluation and diagnosis will produce a more accurate clinical conclusion and the appropriate treatment can be rendered.

TMJ SyndromeTemporomandibular joint pain is more common than most people would imagine. Most patients have been to dentists, oral surgeons, and all types of other specialists, and many patients do not realize that chiropractic can be very useful in treating a TMJ disorder. It is additionally problematic from a financial standpoint whereby most dental policies do not cover a TMJ condition, nor will most medical policies, considering it more of a dental type issue. Dental-related therapies such as grinding down some of the surfaces of the teeth and customized bite splints and/or injections/surgery can be very expensive, so conservative options such as chiropractic to address jaw pain is a very cost effective approach. A good percentage of TMJ conditions are related to clenching of the jaw, commonly at night during sleep, which the patient is often unaware of. The chronic clenching condition causes shortening of the masseter muscles which then limit jaw opening and may impair chewing and other functions. We have had modest success utilizing various techniques of intraoral massage, addressing the masseter and pterygoid muscles which are an intrinsic part of jaw pain, as well as mobilization of the jaw and cervicocranial junction, and the usage of other modalities such as dry needling and ultrasound. Very often results can be immediately measured by observing and measuring an increased level of jaw opening post treatment.

Thoracic Outlet SyndromeThoracic Outlet Syndrome commonly involves pain or altered sensation from the base of the neck outwardly into the upper extremity. It is most often due to neurological or vascular entrapment as the nerves or blood vessels exit the thoracic outlet which is at the root of the neck. Chiropractic evaluation incorporates assessment of this area, and Thoracic Outlet Syndrome may respond very nicely to any type of myofascial release or other musculoskeletal treatment which releases the tightness of the area. Dry needling is another very good option for addressing this condition and has been proven successful.